Posted by TTU Sports Information
on March 25, 2003

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. Ð The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles pounded out 21 hits Monday night in a 16-11 marathon victory over visiting Jacksonville State University. The victory, Tech's fourth straight win, improved the Golden Eagles' overall record to 11-9 on the season.

With the score tied at 10, the Golden Eagles picked up three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 13-10 lead. Ben Shannon, who had four hits on the night for Tech, doubled to center field to score Britt Clubb and a single by Cole Helms brought Shannon and Justin Mundt home.

Tech made it 15-10 with two more runs in the bottom of the seventh. Chris Gant slapped a run-scoring triple to the corner in right field and later scored on a wild pitch. After a single run by Jacksonville to cut the Tech lead to 15-11, the Golden Eagles added a solo run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Casey Benjamin doubled to right field to open the action and later scored on a single by Ryan Hay, who extended his hitting streak to 15 games.

Shannon and Hay led the Golden Eagle charge with four hits each. Mundt had three hits as did Carlos Martin. Helms and Benjamin had two hits apiece. David Jackson picked up his first win of the season for the Golden Eagles, allowing one run on two hits. He came on in the fifth inning in relief of Brian Driskell, who replaced starter Cooper Eddy in the third inning. Helms pitched the final three innings to get his second save of the season.

Bryan Wynns came on in the sixth inning for Jacksonville to pick up his first loss of the season. He allowed four runs on six hits. John Chamblee got the start with Charles Andres and David Andres coming on in relief.

Tech got on the board first Monday night with a solo run in the bottom of the second inning. Brent Bilodeau walked and later scored on a double down the left field line by Shannon. Jacksonville answered with five runs in the top of the third to take a 5-1 lead, highlighted by home runs from Brian Johnson and Kerri Fair.

However, the Golden Eagles came right back with eight runs of their own in the bottom of the third to regain the lead at 9-5. Tech had six hits in its half of the third, highlighted by a two-run homer from Scott Terry. Shannon added a RBI double and Hay smacked a single to right field to score Shannon. Tech made it 10-5 with a single run in the fourth on a solo home run by Britt Clubb.

Jacksonville State tied the game at 10-10 with four runs in the top of the fifth inning and a single run in the sixth. Brian Haskins homered to open the fifth inning and Johnson added a run-scoring double to left field. David Civello's double to left field scored Haskins in the sixth.

The Golden Eagles get back on the field on Tuesday, March 25, when Belmont University visits Cookeville. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m.